RCMS central server and remote CMS

The central CMS functions involve the operation of CMS operator stations in central control rooms. In the context of harbor cranes, the term "RCMS" (Remote CMS) has become established.

As well as offering remote access to the CMS stations of the cranes, the central RCMS offers additional functions such as:

• Plant‑wide crane overview
• Remote access to individual cranes
• Central data acquisition and evaluation
• Availability overview and Gantt charts
• Performance evaluation
• Excel reporting tool for data evaluation and exporting from MS SQL from CMS and RCMS
• Replay/Playback from RCMS on each CMS using WebClient functionality
• Long‑term archiving in MS SQL on RCMS

The central RCMS focuses on the entire plant, not the single crane. Cranes of the same type can be compared and weak points therefore be detected. The determination of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and overviews of operating modes, downtimes etc. plays a key role at this point.

Given the volume of information that has to be displayed, we would recommend using large screens or even multi‑screen mode. The system also supports the use of the large screens, commonly used in the control rooms of large industrial plants or control centers.

Plant‑wide crane overview

The plant‑wide crane overview is a project‑oriented plant display based on a layout plan. The project engineer stores this plan as background in a format that is suitable for WinCC. Individual cranes are depicted using symbols. This display is not included in the scope of the product, but the data interface is provided.

Example of screen for RCMS – statistical overview

An alternative display is the hierarchic view as a topology tree. The different types of crane are displayed here in groups. The status of the individual cranes is visualized using different colors.

Example of screen for RCMS – node tree manager and cartographical overview

Remote access to individual cranes

In the crane overview node tree manager, a crane can be selected and the CMS interface of this crane can be displayed via remote access. Full access of the crane is possible from RCMS via WebNavigator option on CMS station.

Example of integrated remote access of CMS into RCMS

Central data acquisition and evaluation

The cargo handling data, error messages, and counter values acquired for each crane are synchronized with the RCMS server. This server makes the consolidated data for all assigned cranes available for further evaluations. All data from different cranes (CMS stations), e.g. operational data, tags, messages, are sent to the remote RCMS. The Remote CMS (RCMS) can be also called as ‘’central CMS station’’, which means there is a central station where the data from all cranes are collected. An RCMS has a Microsoft SQL database with long‑term archive integrated into WinCC station. This means the data is stored for long term in a Microsoft SQL database. The configuration for segments and data backup is to be configured at the beginning of the project for RCMS configuration. More details please refer to the CMS manuals and WinCC information on the support site.

On the RCMS a central fault message system is used in order to perform statistics and filtering of fault messages for each crane in the terminal. Statistical analysis for all messages can be performed in the message window on RCMS station. Comprehensive message evaluation can be performed as well in the WinCC message system in combination with CMS and RCMS message tables from SQL.

RCMS – message list for one crane

RCMS – message list for all cranes in the terminal

Crane operational data on RCMS – list with moves per crane

Using the node tree manager structure on the RCMS, information about operational data for each crane can be obtained when clicking in the node tree on the required crane. An overview with the most important data is shown in a table. Filtering and data export can be performed on each individual crane.

Remote system activation from RCMS on the crane (CMS station)

Each crane can be accessed in parallel remotely from RCMS in order to visualize the screens from each local CMS. Full access to screens as well full commands can be obtained from the RCMS via WebNavigator option installed on each CMS. Several sessions in parallel can be started from RCMS and parallel statistical data overview can be performed from RCMS individually for each CMS. The sessions can be started at the same time in different sessions from RCMS and CMS as well – when the operator is operating the crane from a local CMS, different information can be visualized remotely on the RCMS.

Availability overview and Gantt charts

The WinCC option Performance Monitor continuously acquires the operating states of all assigned cranes. This enables the operator to determine the availability of the cranes at any time and to detect weak points. The information is visualized in a Gantt chart with information about statuses of the cranes on the RCMS station. The overview of the Gantt chart can be visualized for each crane or for more crane sin parallel. In this way data from different cranes can be compared and weak points are to be identified in the Gantt charts.

The crane availability is easy to be visualized and extra information can be obtained by clicking on each crane. Different time intervals can be chosen in order to visualize the information from the past.

Gantt chart of cranes availability

Performance evaluations

In addition to the operating states, the system also acquires counter values. This allows the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to be determined, which provide information regarding the reliability and performance of a crane.

Bar diagram representation in Performance Monitor

Data export to a table as CSV format

In addition to a number of predefined calculation algorithms, plant‑specific calculation formulas can be stored. The date can be in different ways represented (tabular form, graphics in several scale axes, filtering of data, etc.)

Bar diagram representation in Performance Monitor – representation of KPI for each crane

When needed, the data and KPI’s can be exported to a tabular form as a CSV or XLS format. Data can be filtered or export of all data can be chosen. This can be done for each representation and defined KPI formula and algorithm. The KPI algorithms and calculation formulas can be changed any time the operator needs to add or to change the calculation.

Example of export table of KPIs

Changing of properties for data representation and settings in Performance Monitor

Microsoft SQL data retrieving and reporting using MS Excel

From the version V4.3 of SIMOCRANE CMS the possibility to easy extract the data from Microsoft (MS) SQL for CMS and RCMS is offered by using standard Microsoft programs such as Excel. The MS Excel can be installed on any office PC in the terminal. The PC should have access to the CMS or RCMS stations in the network. No installation of CMS or RCMS on the office PC is required, only a plug in for data access on the MS SQL database in order to facilitate the connection from a remote PC to the local MS SQL database. The Excel reporting tool needs to be configured in the beginning, regarding the name of the PC and the IP address. The operational data (moves, counters, timers, etc.) and other data stored in the archive tags on CMS or RCMS can be easily accessed remotely from an office PC. Fault message scan be retrieved as well as statistical analysis can be performed from different message groups.

Microsoft Excel tool for data retrieving and data representation/reporting from MS SQL databases on CMS and RCMS

Example of window in MS Excel reporting tool for topology configuration

Example of window in MS Excel reporting tool for alarm analysis

Example of window in MS Excel reporting tool for archive tags reporting